Washing-machine



YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F. B. PRATT AND F. TYLER, OF CLIW'ELAND, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,365, dated May 25, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, F. B. PRATT and F. TYLEE,0 Cleveland,in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in lashing-Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which# Figure l is a -top view of our machine. Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section, and F ig. 3 a perspective view, of a detached section, of the same.

Like letters refer to like parts in the different views.

A represents the box or case, to which the devices for washing, are attached; B, a fluted roller, of wood, or, a plain roller of wood, covered with fluted Zinc, or other suitable substance; O, C, two pieces which are the bearings or frame of the two plain rollers D, D, of the fluted roller E, and of the brake F, and which are attached at one end to the case A, by a screw c, or otherwise, which allows the opposite ends of the pieces to vibrate; Gr, a bent lever, which has for its ulcrum, a pin or screw g in one of the side pieces C, and one end of which works upon a pin or screw in the outer edge of the brake F; H, H, two rods, which pass through the guides or plates 7L, 7L, attached to the case, and the lower end of which are attached to the two bearings O, O; I, I, two thumb pieces which work upon the screw part of the rods H, H; J, J, two coiled springs, kept in place by the thumb pieces I, I, and the plates 7i, L; K, Fig. 3, an endless apron or belt, which passes around the rollers D, D, and E, and the brake F; L, a flap attached to the endless apron, or, one end of the apron, the other part ofthe apron, which constitutes the endless belt, being fastenend together, so as to constitute it an endless belt; this fastening may be by means of button holes, and buttons, so as to render it convenient to remove, and replace it, when desirable. The roller B, has its bearings in the sides of the case A, or in journals inserted in the sides of the case. M, the handle, or crank, by which the roller B, is turned. The brake F is fluted as seen at F; Fig. 3, to correspond with the fluting of the roller E, and is attached to the bearings C, C, by pin joints at c c.

The apron K, being in place, the clothes to be washed are placed upon it at K, and

the flap L, laid over them, which will prevent inuch of the wearing that is consequent upon the washing of clothes, by preventing them from coming in immediate Contact with the roller B, the apron K preventing them from coming in immediate contact with the roller E. In this way the apron receives the wearing or attrition that would otherwise be given to the clothes, by the roller B, and when worn out, it is easily and cheaply replaced. The roller B, being revolved, it revolves the roller E, whose flutes work into the flutes of the roller B, and thus press and rub the clothes between them, as the clothes pass in the apron around the rollers D, D, and E. The resistance which the apron meets in passing between the rollers B and E, is sufficient to cause it to revolve the rollers D, D; thus the apron, with its burden of clothes, meets no resistance, except where necessary to the washing of the clothes. The rollers D, D, keep the apron at a proper tension.

Then desirable to rub the clothes harder than they are rubbed by the fitting of the flutes of the roller E, into the flutes of the roller B, the lever G is brought back behind the projection o', of the plate 0. This elevates the inner side of the brake F, and brings its flute F, in contact with the flutes of the roller E, and thus holds that roller, while the roller B is revolved upon it. This rubs the clothes hard, and corresponds to what is called knuckle rubbing. The bearings O, C, being yielding, give way, or are depressed, when a large bulk of clothes pass between the rollers B and E, but keep their place more nearly, when a small quantity of clothes pass between.

If desirable that the pressure upon the clothes, should be more or less than that given by bearings C, C, the thumb screws I, I, are turned, so as to give more or less tension to the springs J, J. The springs J, by their elasticity, assist in giving the proper pressure to the clothes and by acting upon the yielding bearings C C, keep the roller E, always in proper contact with the roller B, whether a small or a. large quantity of clothes are washed at one time. The crank M, is turned continuously in one direction and the clothes between the apron and flap, are carried into the suds, at every revolution of the apron; this movement, too, slightly changes the position of the clothes lupon the apron, and thus facilitates the operation of cleansing.` In the hard or l The iuted brake F, When attached to knuckle rubbing, the roller B may be turned 'yielding bearings C, C, parallel With fluted n either direction alternately. The presroller E, in combination with the united sure of the rollers B and E upon Jthe apron, open 'lapped and endless aprons L, K, and 15 5 causes the apron to move slowly foi-Ward, in When arranged, and operating in the Inanthe direction of the movement of the ner and for the purpose set forth. roller B. F. B. PRATT.

We do not claim the parts herein named, F. TYLEE. as new, separately considered. But 10 What We do claim as our improvement l and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl Witnesses:

I. BRAINERm S. H. MARTIN. 

